Thanks for all the response on the propane heater idea for a boat with an enclosed engine and bilge. I e-mailed the "Mr. heater" company and they said that they do not support using the propane heaters in boats with enclosed engines & bilges as the propane is heavier than air and could cause an explosion. I think it is one of those things that you could get away with but the one bad day would be it. I'm looking to dress warmly!

If you go on just about any large boat, what do you find? A propane stove. Surely, there is a danger, but how great? I wouldn't think your risk is any greater than that on, say, a Grand Banks. We cook in there all the time. Sure we had a small fire, , but it went out on it's own(egg carton in propane fire, back into fridge, never even knew it happened) I think you are being overly cautious. Who needs frozen Cajones?

Have you thought about running it off your engine? My father in-law is a engineer with air condition units for Trucks and told me I could run heat off my 20ft Bayliner. They sell units to where you set it under your console or where ever you need to put it with on and off switches. Run hoses from the engine to the unit and its operated by fan. I haven't completely looked in to this system yet and I'm actually dragging my a@! to get it done also.

Hope fully this will help you.

Fish On,

ErnDog

I have one of those indoor safe Mr Heater boxes on my boat and absolutely love it. It puts off enough heat (6000 BTU max) to keep the Misses warm, so I can do the fishin' and she does the drivin'.

My boat has the Alaska bulkhead, so we're using it "indoors". Of course, you have to be safe and appropriately cautious, but I think the Mr Heater folks are going a little overboard (pardon the pun).

Considering our lawsuit-happy society, they would be foolish to officially support using a propane heater in any type of contained space. I bet they would even consider it unsafe to use these heaters in your garage. Actually, you're not ever suppose to bring a propane cylinder indoors.

Obviously, it's your call, but I'd say get the heater and enjoy cold weather fishing.

I just bought a Toyo diesel heater for my boat. It works great and will run all day on about a gallong of diesel. They are a little spendy but if you spend a lot of time on a boat in cold weather, they are worth every penny.

Just a thought!

Have any of you contacted your insurance company to see if you are even covered when using such an unapproved cost guard heating device?

If they say that you are covered... then go for it!

Cowlitzfisherman

Drifter,


How much was the heater?? Do you have a link to check them out?

Thanks

Jeff

Frost,

I'm a little confused, is your boat an inboard?

Is it an enclosed cooling system? Or is it raw water cooled?

On my aluminum boat (outboard) I keep the propane tank in a milk carton on the swim step and run a hose to the heater or the stove. I think the tank storage is the thing to worry about. I disconnect the tank when not in use and only hook up when I'm using it. On my boat there is enough air-flow if anything was leaking I'd smell it for sure.

Of course on the inboard its enclosed cooling system and I have a heater under the seat, off the engine.

herm

They cost between $1,300 and $1,500 depending on what goodies you get with it. (i.e. fuel tank, rigging hose, ...) I believe the closest company that can get them is Marysville Distributing Co. Located near the navy complex in Smokey Point. Good heat if you have a cabin.

A partner of mine at work went to his daughters in idaho over the three day weekend.Son in law always takes him steelhead fishing on the clearwater.Said there were two aluminium boats with FIRES burning in the middle of them for warmth!The 6 gallon tanks were not three feet from these fires!